ICPE 2019 Annual Meeting Review

On Saturday, August 24, state-level Indiana Coalition for Public Education held its annual meeting.

Opener
 
Marilyn Shank welcomed those assembled and introduced ICPE’s new president, Cathy Fuentes- Rohwer.
 
You can read Cathy's speech here.
 
Important takeaways:
1. ICPE’s board members are a powerful group of people:

• Dountonia Batts—Past director of the IPS Community Coalition, parent of IPS students
• Shelley Clark—Washington Township Parent Council leader and parent of public school students
• Dr. Ed Eiler—Retired superintendent of Lafayette School Corporation 
• Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer—Founder of Indiana Coalition for Public Education–Monroe County and parent of public school students
• Dr. Tony Lux—Retired superintendent of Merrillville School Corporation and founder of the Northwest Indiana Coalition for Public Education
• Dr. Pat Payne, IPS director of racial equity with nearly 60 years of public education advocacy and trailblazing
• Dr. Suellen Reed—former state superintendent
• Glenda Ritz—former state superintendent
• Tim Skinner—former state representative and teacher in Vigo County School Corporation
• Maryann Schlegel Ruegger—A member of the Indiana Charter School Board and a public school student
• Marilyn Shank—PR expert
• Vic Smith—Founder of ICPE and legislation expert
• Marvin Ward—School finance expert

2. Cathy concluded: “So, while the privatizers are well funded, we (ICPE members) are well grounded. We are grounded in the idea that every child, regardless of his or her background has the right to high quality public education. We are grounded in the idea that this public education is not for the interests of a workforce or for the wealthy or for the corporate benefit—it is in the interests of our DEMOCRACY that we have an educated citizenry. We are defenders of this democracy because public education is its cornerstone.”

Share our beliefs? Join us!
 
Keynote Speakers

The keynote speakers were John Ellis and Michael Shaffer, authors of the book Unraveling Reform Rhetoric:  What Educators Need to Know and Understand. You can buy it here.
 
Their presentation can be viewed here.

Important takeaways:

1. Indiana’s voucher schools have become the new segregation academies. In 2011, when the voucher program began, 26% of voucher recipients were African Americans. Now that percentage has dropped to 12%.
2. Our students deserve the multiple benefits of traditional public education that other schooling cannot offer, and frankly, does not WANT to offer. 
3. Public schools welcome ALL students: minority, EL, LGBTQ+, and special education.  In our public schools, these students are welcomed, and their rights are protected. 
4. Talk about public education wherever and whenever. In the grocery line! Don’t assume that everyone knows what you know.

 
Legislative Update

Marilyn Shank presented on behalf of ICPE lobbyist, Joel Hand. The ICPE legislative update slides can be seen here.

Important takeaways:

1. ICPE authored an amendment to remove the elimination of certain curriculum requirements for civics education from the study. This is the first ICPE-issued amendment that was accepted into law. May we have more in the upcoming sessions!
2. HB1003, the teacher pay bill, does NOT require any increase teacher pay.
3. What may come this next legislative session, which is a short session:
   1. Accountability measures, including post-secondary
   2. ILEARN
   3. Expanding counselor responsibilities for career counseling
   4. Diploma pathways
   5. Complexity index
   6. More accountability for virtual charter schools
   7. A cap or “pause” for new charter schools
   8. More transparency for voucher/charter funding & management
   9. School safety/weapons
   10. Teacher pay/teacher shortages
   11. Education Savings Accounts

   

Q&A 

The last group that answered questions from the audience were:

• Marvin Ward, treasurer of ICPE and school finance guru
• Sue Errington, Indiana State Representative, District 34
• Carey Hamilton, Indiana State Representative, District 87

 
The Q&A can be viewed here.
 
Important takeaways:

1. We need to do something for schools with declining enrollment. Districts are receiving less money even though legislators are celebrating the education budget increase from last legislative session.
2. Circuit breakers are a problem. They affect both the capital assets fund and the education fund. For example, Anderson is losing $13 million due to circuit breakers. When your school is losing so much in operation funds from the circuit breaker, they need to turn to the education fund to help pay for buses, building maintenance, etc.
3. The complexity index will be discussed by interim Fiscal Policy Committee on October 15, 9:30 am in room 431 at the Statehouse. Save the date!
4. Tim Skinner asks: “How do you grow the message beyond the people that already care? How do you get the parents of public school children aware of the real damage that is being done every day to our kids and still elect a supermajority of people that are hell bent on destroying public education?” Join ICPE, promote legislative report cards, take to your neighbors and friends, find 10 friends to join ICPE. If you have another answer, let us know! 

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